I have a lot of weird dreams and nightmares, especially about shows. I'm usually really good about keeping my worries under control, until my head hits the pillow.
I just recently closed "Much Ado About Nothing" and had the weirdest dream the night before opening.
It was opening night. I get there and I cannot find our MASSIVE two-story set. I ask the scenic designer where it is and he has moved it to the other spaces (about ten yards from where we are to there, through two one-story loading dock doors) and that I have to move it back alone. So, I’m freaking out, because I can’t figure out how. Somehow, I did it.
So, we are getting ready for the show and Borachio has cat ears. I told him to take them off, because the director would kill me. And he said, no, they were for another show and he wore real cat ears on stage. Then another actor told me he was quitting. I told him he couldn’t quit and after all there were only six more shows. And he said that he was going to do another one-man showcase, because he was tired of Much Ado. However, he went on stage, so I’m assuming he didn’t quit.
The show starts and suddenly there is an orangey-red glow everywhere. When I finally figure out what it is, the entire building is on fire, but I’m the only one who is worried/freaked out. The show goes on. Suddenly, (and I was semi-conscious at this part) everything is pitch black and I’m upset because I cannot find my light op. I don’t know how to work the light board and the show is going on in complete darkness.(then I think I fell into a deeper sleep)
Eventually, the lights come back on and I notice that the fountain onstage is gushing water (keep in mind it’s only a shallow pull with half an inch of water in it normally), flooding the stage and the studio theatre. So, I have Margaret, Balthazar, Lady 1, and Lady 2 take rags and try to mop it up while in character so the show can go on, but the water keeps coming. The actors aren’t getting wet, but there is SO much water. My ASM disappeared and I couldn’t find him, but he was there somewhere. Then, our house manager was suddenly flying on stage trying to act while in street clothes and I’m freaking out, because I have NO IDEA what the hell is going on. The lights dim for a cue, but the aisle lights are on and I keep calling for them to be turned off, but they won’t shut off. We somehow survive the performance and flash forward to next week. I’m at portfolio reviews with Director and scenic designer (who are married), except they were one person.The Director is talking with the scenic designer’s voice. She tells me that I need to change my major, because I (and quote) “f***ing such” and can’t stage manage anymore.
I protest, I know I screwed up, but come on, look at what the show was like. And that I can do better. I have nothing else in my life. And she is like, “You need to leave. You don’t belong here.” And I ask her what the costume designer (another theatre professor and a great mentor of mine) thought and she was like “He’s not coming. He hates you so much that he’s not even coming to your portfolio review.”
Oh, and during this whole dream, I was hiding/being chased by my best friend and a stapler.
I woke up, crying, freaking the hell out. It was bad. I did NOT take ANYTHING. My roommate asked what aisle lights were because I kept calling out for the cue in my sleep.
